Two Films

Posted on March 21, 2007 in Film

G. made the most accurate pronouncement when I described the plotline of [[Mr._Jones_(film)|Mr. Jones]] to a group of bipolar friends after a 6 mile hike on Sunday: “It’s every male bipolar’s dream. To have your therapist fall in love with you. Of course she has to be good looking.” And [[Lena Olin]] fit the bill.

“There’s that stage, you go through,” A added, “when you fall in love with every female who is nice to you. The waitress fills your coffee cup and you’re in love!” My theory was that the therapist had to fall in love with Mr. Jones because it was [[Richard Gere]] playing the part and Richard Gere never loses the girl.

A different sort of love story is covered by The Science of Sleep, by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind director [[Michel Gondry]]. In both of the Gondry pieces I have seen I’ve been struck by the resonance his characters have with my own during my brightest depressions and darkest manias. He even named the protagonist of Eternal Sunshine “Joel”. Isn’t that reason enough for proud paranoia? Has this man written his scripts from my emotions?

I’m convinced Gondry is a closet bipolar, either taking his medication in secret or refusing it altogether so he can come up with ever more glorious hallucinogenic cinema for all of us to enjoy.

List your favorite films about bipolars and other mentally ill people. Dibs on Blue Sky.

[tags]Film, Bipolar Disorder[/tags]